"Nutrition is key to the future of football" - from a Socceroos and One Goal fan

Jan 21 / AC2015

In anticipation of Thursday night's AC2015 clash between Australia and China PR, Physical Education and Health teacher and lifelong football fan Cameron King shares his unique take on why good child nutrition is the key to the future of football.

Football in Australia has come a long way over the past decade. November 16th, 2015 will be the 10th anniversary of that famous Socceroos penalty shootout win over Uruguay at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.

Over that past decade the Socceroos have made the move to the Asian Football Confederation, appeared in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014 World Cups and competed in the 2007 and 2011 AFC Asian Cups.

The Golden generation of Socceroos Viduka, Kewell, Aloisi, Emerton and Schwarzer have all gone and the old brigade of Cahill, Bresciano and Jedinak are still a solid part of our current Socceroos squad.

Over the next decade we should see the emergence of Luongo, Ryan, Kruse and Juric who will hopefully create their own status alongside our past Socceroos legends.

Image: AFC Asian Cup

2015 brings the AFC Asian Cup to Australia and on Thursday night our Socceroos come up against a strong Chinese outfit that went unbeaten in the group stages. The Australian team have a few things going for them in this quarter-final clash that should get us over the line.

The Socceroos would now have spent close to a week in Brisbane to prepare for this game whereas the Chinese team have had to make the long journey from Canberra to Brisbane for the game. Australia will also be afforded the luxury of an extra day of recovery than their opposition.

The biggest thing going for the Socceroos will be their 12th man, the Australia community. With a sell-out Brisbane crowd expected to give the Socceroos that extra motivation to get them through to the semi-finals of the competition.

I am a supporter of One Goal who brings together the Asian Football Confederation and World Vision Australia to tackle inequality, poverty and vulnerability across Asia and Australia and ensure that boys and girls across the region lead healthy, happy and active lives.

As a Physical Education and Health teacher I believe that education gives children the chance to gain valuable knowledge and skills to improve their lives. Every child should know the importance of leading a nutritiously healthy and physical active life, the benefits it brings and the happiness and joy that it creates.

As an avid football fan in Australia, I am only one of 1.4 Billion football fans across Asia who would love to see these boys and girls given every chance of one day playing the game they love by supporting the great cause of One Goal and their aim of tackling malnutrition across Asia.